Guys,
Body structure has a lot to do with this debate as well. PowerlifterJay is an exceptional bench presser, so it makes sense that his deadlift is much lower than his squat.
I am not nearly as strong as Jay, but I have similar proportions. I squat around 600, bench a little over 500, and only pull around 425 to 450.
I only compete in bench meets, and may not ever do full meets because of my terrible deadlift. Good powerlifters (Ed Coan, Garry Frank, Lamar Gant) are usually the best deadlifters. Good benchers rarely total well, because they are almost always sub-par deadlifters, even if they are exceptional squatters. Jay is a very very good squatter, and an even better bencher, but his pulling is going to hurt him in a full meet. He could subtotal 1400 and get beat by an outstanding deadlifter. I am much weaker than Jay on all lifts, so the good deadlifters would put me to so much shame I have just avoided the 3 lifts alltogether.
Many people who are built for deadlifting start off deadlifting more than they can squat. I envy those. The reason that squats eventually pass deadlift numbers is because equipment helps more in the squat than deadlift, and because an increase in body mass helps in the squat, but does not help, and can actually hurt your deadlift. You guys that can deadlift a lot are made for full meets, good luck to you.
B.